4 Italian Words That Snuck Into My English Vocabulary

Do you catch yourself saying the most ridiculous things once you’ve learned another language? Besides screwing up words and their meanings, you also have to battle with switching back to your mother tongue fluidly.

Here are the random Italian words that somehow squeezed their way into my English vocabulary.

Mammamia

No matter which language I’m speaking you will definitely catch me whispering a few Mammamia’s around.

The bus driver loves to speed up right before he needs to stop at the light, causing everyone to get thrown around. Mammamia!

Golosa

This is one of those really weird words that don’t work as well in English. Golosa, meaning gluttonous, is often used when someone likes to indulge in food. I’ve been called golosa more than once, not gonna lie.

Since I would sound ridiculous saying “you are such a glutton” I can say “golosa!” and be on my chubby little way.

Protagonista

Ok, this one is actually annoying. Italians use protagonista in ever press release, article—you name it, they have inserted it somewhere, anywhere in the copy.

Then low and behold, when it is translated poorly you get protagonist. Is this a Jane Austin novel or something? Am I in English class, which I sooo did not do well in? I may have had protagonista slip out of my mouth, but only because I was talking to Italians.

Basta

I think we can all agree that basta is a mighty fine word! I love it. It goes with any irritating scenario known to man, just as well as asparagus goes with eggs. P.S. That’s one killer foodie combo!

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Like the main character or product or whomever is the center of the story. You never hear it in English since we use it only relating to literature, but the word in Italian seems to expand to real life too.

“Basta” and “mammamia” are definitely on my list too! 🙂 Back home when I have to give a contemplative answer I tend to start my sentence with “Allora….” with a good dash of “quindi…” thrown in to wrap up the convo.